What is a Longevity Lens?

Incorporating a longevity lens in our work means recognizing how longer lifespans and the changing needs of an aging population will impact what we do and how we do it. By considering long-term outcomes alongside short-term solutions, we can begin to lay a foundation that leads to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for Maryland residents to thrive in across all stages of life. 

Simple ways to take action:

• Collect Key Data: Incorporate intake questions on your program enrollment forms that collect as many details on the social determinants of health of participants as appropriate, such as age, race, geographic location, and income.
• Share Data: While protecting client identity, share client-related data with the LRM Data team, including the number of clients served, their service needs, ages, and other key characteristics. Your information will never be shared with anyone outside of the Maryland Department of Aging and will only be used in the implementation of Longevity Ready Maryland.
• Define Policies: Consider how the work you do today will improve the lives of your clients as they age and how your organization will accommodate the needs of more older adults in the future.
• Register Programs with MAP: Identify the programs and services you provide for older adults, and/or how they meet the needs of Marylanders of all ages and abilities. Register those programs with Maryland Access Point to better connect with those who need them most.
• Access Resources: Take advantage of the sector-specific resources provided to help build longevity resilience in key priority areas, and sign up to join the conversation.
• Spread the Word: As you prepare for longevity readiness in your work and community, share the ways you are paving the way for a Longevity Ready Maryland with the LRM community to inspire others. Resources to help are in the LRM Digital Toolkit.